Linn Expands Networked Audio Selection

Tag : audio jack
Late last year, Linn shipped the $18,500 Klimax DS and $6,580Akurate DS clients as well as the $10,280 Akurate Music Server,which integrates with custom-installed multiroom audio systems tostream music from networked PCs and NAS devices to eight zones inthe house.
All clients connect to the network via wired Ethernet jack todecode music in the FLAC, WAV, MP3, and AIFF audio formats atsampling rates up to 192kHz and word depths up to 24 bits. Multiplenetworked clients can each stream separate songs from the PC or NASdevice, and each client accesses the SHOUTcast Internet radioservice via broadband modem without the need to turn on a networkedPC. All clients feature UPnP AV technoloy to connect automaticallyto UPnP-equipped PCs and NAS devices and enable control fromUPnP-equipped PCs, wireless handheld remotes and touchscreens, andselect cellphones.
The $2,000 Sneaky DS is the only client with on-board preamplifierand amplifier, so all it needs is a pair of speakers to operate asa self-contained music system. The amp is rated at 2x20 watts. The$3,500 Majik client features a preamp but no amp, so consumers mustadd powered speakers or outboard amp in conjunction with passivespeakers. The $6,580 Akurate DS client and top-of-the-line $18,500Klimax DS client, available since late last year, lack preamp andamp sections, so they must be connected to a lagecy stereo systemin the same way as a CD player.
The $10,280 Akurate Music Server also lacks preamp and amp sectionsbut isn’t designed as a standalone client. Instead, itintegrates with custom-installed multiroom audio systems to delivereight zones of NAS- or PC-stored music via eight line-level analogoutputs. It’s controlled from a multiroom audiosystem’s in-wall controllers.